Measles outbreaks will recur on a large scale: Ministry of Health

Vaccination for children (Photo: Vietnam+)

Hanoi (VNA) - Professor Tran Dac Phu - Director of Preventive Medicine Department (Ministry of Health) said that according to the evolution of measles epidemics, after 4-5 years, measles outbreaks will recur on a large scale. In particular, in the past 2018, the number of measles cases has increased more than in 2017. This indicates that measles has started to increase.

The Ministry of Health warns that children and adults who are not vaccinated will have a very high risk of measles at any time.

In Vietnam, measles tends to be scattered and localized from the last months of 2018 up till now, mainly in some northern mountainous provinces, big cities like Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City and some provinces with large industrial zones such as Dong Nai and Binh Duong ...

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that affected people are those who have not been vaccinated against measles. Many adults, including pregnant women have been infected.

According to statistics, in 2018, Vietnam had more than 9,700 people with scarlet fever (more than 20 times compared to 2017), of whom 1,963 were positive for measles (up 13 times compared to 2017). Worryingly, more than 50% of measles cases are due to not being vaccinated, the rest due to not getting enough shots, not on schedule.

Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by measles virus. The disease occurs year round but usually occurs in the Winter-Spring season, with a high rate of infection from person to person, mainly through the respiratory tract.

According to Associate Professor Phu, the spread of the disease can only be prevented when the community is fully vaccinated.

People who have not been infected or have not been fully immunized with measles vaccines can get sick. Measles can cause many dangerous complications such as otitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, corneal ulceration of the eyes, bronchitis, pneumonia, encephalitis ... can lead to death, especially in young children get measles while the body has the disease. For women with measles during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, premature birth.

In 2018, globally, measles is still recorded in 184/194 countries and territories, especially with an increase of up to 2.6 times in the European region, including some countries where measles has been declared eliminated.

To proactively prevent disease risks and protect children's health, in 2018 with the approval of the Ministry of Health, the National Expanded Immunization Project has organized 3 rounds of complementary measles - rubella vaccination campaigns for 1-5 year olds in high-risk areas.

Currently in the Winter-Spring season, with the influx of tourists and the rate of vaccination is not high - there are many favorable factors for infectious diseases to develop.

Associate Professor Tran Dac Phu - Director of Preventive Medicine Department (Photo: Vietnam+)

The Ministry of Health evaluates measles is in the epidemic cycle, so epidemics are easy to break out if no timely response is taken. To prevent measles, the Department of Preventive Medicine, the Ministry of Health recommends that people actively take vaccination as this is the best and most effective preventive measure against measles.

Parents are urged to take a 9-12 month child to a health facility to get the first shot of measles vaccination, repeat the second shot when the child is 18 months old.

Parents should send their children to receive additional measles vaccination at risk areas according to the health and local government vaccination campaigns.

Children over 5 years of age and adults who have not been vaccinated against measles should be vaccinated. If not given, there is a high risk of measles at any time.

In order to prevent measles, people need to limit contact with people who are sick or suspected of being infected. When having to contact patients, people have to wear medical masks and personal protective equipment.

When there are signs of measles (fever, cough, runny nose, rash), it is necessary to soon isolate and take children to the nearest medical facilities for prompt examination and treatment./.